MURRIETA: Shopping center details to be finished soon

City says it has commitment from developer regarding curb and gutter

An unfinished curb and gutter that has irked residents is
expected to be completed soon.

The work that remains to be done is on a road that borders a
controversial shopping center at the corner of Date Street and
Margarita Road. The shopping center, which is home to numerous
businesses including sandwich shops, a jewelry store, a surgery
center and an exotic fish store, has been a point of contention
with nearby residents since it was built.

The residents say that, not only is the shopping center
inappropriately situated among residential neighborhoods, all the
necessary work along Date Street has not be completed as it
should.

Mike Fitzpatrick, a former planning commissioner who lives near
the center, aired his frustrations recently when he asked the
Murrieta City Council to find out why the center's owner had not
completed the road improvements on the project's border.
Specifically, Fitzpatrick complained that a curb and gutter, as
well as landscaping, had not been put in at that corner.

"Quite frankly, I believe there's a ADA issue (because) the
sidewalk, curb and gutter are not in," Fitzpatrick said referring
to the Americans with Disabilities Act. "The buildings have been in
for three years. We'd like to have it complete. We'd like to have
the owner of the property held accountable to complete his
project."

City officials say that should happen soon.

Murrieta's public works director, Pat Thomas, said recently that
he had received a vow by the property owner, Tim Stavrakis, that
the work to install the curb, gutter and a sidewalk will begin
soon. Stavrakis could not be reached for comment.

Thomas said the work that remains to be done is minimal, adding
that he expects it should take less than two months to
complete.

He said the owner ran into financial issues, which delayed the
start of the work.

But Thomas said the city has made it clear that the center's
owner will not be able to fill any vacant storefronts until the
work is completed, which serves as a financial incentive to move
forward.

"It's pretty unique that it's gone on this long," Thomas said.
"Most developers typically know what they're required to do and in
most cases they fulfill those requirements, but this one here just
kind of got drug out. ... He's been trying to get the financial
resources together to get everything completed."